Motif #1 Days
Saturday, May 16, & Sunday, May 17, 2009

Click here for a printable weekend program
(schedule of events, area map, sponsors, and credits)

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(Art credit: John Walker)

Click here for schedule of fund-raising events for New Year's Rockport Eve

With strong support from Rockport's business community, including shops, galleries, restaurants, and inns, planning has moved into high gear for Rockport's 61st annual Motif #1 Days, Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. Every May since 1949 Rockport has celebrated its arts heritage and the return of spring with a festival featuring the famed fishing shack, which for generations has been a favorite subject for painters and photographers. This year artists will be setting up their easels to paint the Motif and other Rockport scenes, complemented by musicians and street performers, Arts and Flowers weekend at the Rockport Art Association, and the first annual "taste of Rockport" at the big tent in Seafencibles Park. Thanks to continuing support from the Board of Selectmen, Rockport's retailers will be creating special displays to roll out their newest lines of spring and summer merchandise, while decking out their shops with flowers and Motif #1 posters to create a festive and fun-filled atmosphere throughout the downtown area.

At Motif #1 on Bearskin Neck's Bradley Wharf, local photographer and historian Les Bartlett will present stories of the Motif in words and images on Sunday, while Rockport's school bands will be performing "The Way We Were" at the Old Firehouse in Dock Square on Saturday morning. The Rockport Legion Band will kick off its 2009 concert season at Harvey Park on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm. Children's activities, live entertainment, and food will be offered all weekend long in Harvey Park to benefit New Year's Rockport Eve. New this year is "A Taste of Rockport" featuring offerings from several Rockport eateries coupled with live musical entertainment under a big tent at Seafencibles Park. This promises to be a weekend filled with fun activities and great shopping and dining opportunities for visitors and residents alike.

In conjunction with this year's Motif #1 Days, Rockport Music will be hosting their "Foundation Day" at the First Congregational Church on Saturday, beginning at 11:30, marking the first major milestone in the construction of the new Shalin Liu Performance Center. The event will feature the Triton Brass Quintet and the Rockport High School Madrigal Chorus. The weekend also features the Rockport Art Association's annual Arts and Flowers gala benefit for their children's art programs on Friday evening and the Kendra Shank Jazz Quartet on Saturday evening, both in the Art Association's main gallery.

Galleries featuring Rockport artists will be open and displaying their extensive collections, while amateur and professional artists will be demonstrating their skills at a variety of locales. Rockport's many restaurants will be featuring their fine fare, and all weekend long a wide array of musicians and street entertainers will be performing at multiple locations, including Seafencibles Park, Main Street, Harvey Park, and Bearskin Neck. A printable calendar of events and map of event locations is available. All are encouraged to visit the site often for calendar and planning updates.

Every local business and community organization is welcome and encouraged to participate in and support Motif # 1 Days this year. For further information or to volunteer, please call 978-546-6575.